Once again the public is last to know about what's going on in their township

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Anyone who regularly reads this space should know by now that whether you like it or not, we are true believers in government being transparent.

We don’t relish writing stories on councils, boards of supervisors or school boards doing things in a secretive manner. But as long as they keep on doing it, we’ll keep writing the stories. Not being transparent erodes the public’s trust and creates a feeling of being shut out to the citizens.

Residents like to know that their government is telling them the truth and that it is operating in a manner they would do themselves. They don’t like trickery, lies, hiding “behind the curtain” or anything like it.

We can only imagine the public outrage in Westtown today after Daily Local News reporter Jeremy Gerrard told the citizens that “abruptly and without explanation,” the township supervisors have replaced Township Manager Bob Layman. Layman served the township for 11 years.

“We have handled all of this in executive session as we are allowed to.”

And the supervisors declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding Layman’s departure.

According to the township code, “the Manager shall be appointed for an indefinite term by a majority of all the members of the Board, shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, and shall be subject to removal by the Board by majority vote. At least 15 days before such removal, the Board shall furnish the Manager with a written statement setting forth its intention to remove the Manager.”

DeWolf said the township intends to make the official announcement in the newsletter coming out in two weeks and will read a statement at the April 7 board meeting.

Well that’s just dandy. So a statement will come a week from now at a board meeting and an official announcement two weeks from now in a newsletter. Could Westtown officials have handled this any worse?

Possibly — because evidently those questioned about the news by Gerrard seemed to be more upset that he knew the news of Layman’s departure. Why is that?

Of course, DeWolf said the relationship with Layman ended amicably.

“Our board also wished Mr. Layman well in his future endeavors,” she said. What else could or would we expect?

Meanwhile, the supervisors confirmed Layman was replaced by township engineer Rob Pingar. As the new manager, Pingar will also retain the title of township director of engineering.

“We are very pleased and excited to have him,” DeWolf said.

And we now know that Pingar began his duties as manager this past Friday.

DeWolf, meanwhile, also declined to say if Pingar was the only person considered for the position and added that the decision to hire Pingar was supported by the full board.

“The board has worked with this every step of the way, we are all united,” DeWolf said.

Does anyone else get a feeling of the wagons circling?

This is not the way Westtown residents want their government to operate. They expect better, deserve better and the Westtown government should want to communicate better and with more transparency.